Atlanta, GA- Missing teeth can take a toll on a person’s confidence and ability to properly eat. While losing a tooth is not always avoidable, Dr. Kauffman is available to help patients who have gaps in their teeth regain their smiles.

“People who have lost teeth may feel to self conscious to smile or even talk. Biting irregularities can also develop due to tooth loss, which leads to poor eating habits and secondary health problems, such as malnutrition and obesity

Dental implants can replace missing teeth and also serve as a way to secure dentures in place for a better, more secure fit. Implant supported denture technology allows a patient to secure their denture in place with better and more lasting results then using denture paste and will not cause ridge resorption. There are two types of implant-supported dentures: bar-retained and ball-retained. In both cases, the denture will be made of an acrylic base that will look like gums. Porcelain or acrylic teeth that look like natural teeth are attached to the base. Both types of dentures need at least two implants for support.

Bar-retained dentures — a thin metal bar that follows the curve of your jaw is attached to two to five implants that have been placed in your jawbone. Clips or other types of attachments are fitted to the bar, the denture or both. The denture fits over the bar and is securely clipped into place by the attachments.

Ball-retained dentures (stud-attachment dentures) — each implant in the jawbone holds a metal attachment that fits into another attachment on the denture. In most cases, the attachments on the implants are ball-shaped ("male"attachments), and they fit into sockets ("female" attachments) on the denture. In some cases, the denture holds the male attachments and the implants hold the female ones.

Implant supported Screw-retained Fixed-Hybrid (fixed bridge) – An implant supported full arch fixed bridge. A series of implants, four or more, are placed in the jaw exactly according to a patient specific guide. The implants are then capped with special abutments that are embedded in the all zirconia bridge. The implant supported screw-retained fixed-hybrid bridge is milled out of 100% zirconia that is matched and shaded to provide the most esthetically pleasing look. The fixed nature of this implant supported restoration makes it perfect for patients who do not wish to have a removable denture. A fixed-hybrid allows for much greater stability than removable dentures and thus even greater chewing efficiency. Compared to dentures a fixed-hybrid means no more paste, no more taking in and out, no more relines, and finally being able to eat the food that you want. Patients say “These are as close to natural as possible”

Before placing dental implants, Dr. Kauffman will take a 3D Galileos Scan. If there is not enough bone or significant bone loss has occurred, a patient might need bone grafting before the implant can be placed. Next, Dr. Kauffman will select the appropriate implant system and size of the implant before it is surgically placed.

As the implant is securely placed in the patient’s jawbone, a protective screw cover or cap will be placed over the implant and then the gum tissue is sutured over the top. The patient’s dental implant is then left to heal for approximately three months, which is a process called osseointegration. During this process, the bone tissue around the implant grows onto the roughened surface of the implant so that it effectively becomes part of the bone and can securely hold a restoration in place. After healing is complete, the cover screw is removed and an abutment is placed on the implant, which serves as an anchorage point to hold a restoration in place.

“Dental implants are not for everyone, but with a consultation we would be more than happy to assess your teeth and determine the best treatment option. For an implant to be successful, a candidate must have proper bone density and a strong immune system. In every dental implant case, strict oral hygiene is required,” said Dr. Kauffman

If you are interested in learning more about dental implants call us, at (404) 524-1981, to schedule a consultation.